FREEPORT — Ellie Willging missed her chance at winning the Pretzel Invite last year because of an injury.

Saturday morning, nothing could hold her back from winning her home meet.

The senior showed a significant burst of speed in the final stretch of her three-mile run to clock in at 17 minutes, 47.99 seconds.

“It was really exciting,” Willging said. “I was kind of in the top two pretty much the whole way.

“I fell back into second by quite a way on the last mile, but once I got into the chute, I just decided, why not try to win this home meet for my senior year.”

Willging took second place as a sophomore, which was the closest she had come to winning individually. Saturday, Willging was just as excited for four of her teammates finishing in the top 25 individually.